Bond set for suspects in fatal Dollar General armed robbery

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Bond has been set for two suspects arrested in a Dollar General armed robbery in which a 21-year-old man was shot and killed by police.

Spencer Banks, 23, and Halbert Adams, 23, were arrested in the incident. Their bonds have been set at $600,000.

The armed robbery happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday at a New Orleans East Dollar General, located in the 10600 block of Chef Menteur Highway. Employees were closing the store for the night and leaving when they were forced back inside by the gunmen.

New Orleans police responded to the store after receiving reports of a robbery in progress. Officers say they surrounded the store and observed several individuals exiting the rear of the building.

A 21-year-old male suspect was shot in the chest, officers say. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Officers say a semi-automatic weapon was found near his body.

"We are still investigating who fired first, or even if there was gunfire exchanged," Superintendent Michael Harrison said. "Two of our officer did fire their weapons, fatally striking and killing one of the suspects."

The two officers who opened fire were Officer Clifton Thompson and Officer Joshua Carthon, according to NOPD. Thompson is a 7-year veteran of the NOPD and Carthon is a 6-year NOPD veteran. They are both on administrative reassignment pending the outcome of the investigation.

Harrison said casings were recovered from the back of store resembling those fired by a New Orleans police officer. Detectives also discovered a bag with more than $2,000 inside.

Banks and Adams were charged with armed robbery. Police are trying to determine if the trio was involved in any other armed robberies in eastern New Orleans or anywhere else.